Automatic gas-controller.



No. 858,878. PATENTED JULY 2, 1907. J. G. LANDES.

AUTOMATIC GAS CONTROLLER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.16,1908.

2'SHEBTSBHBET 1.

THE NORRIS PETERS :u., wnsmucmu, u. c.

PATBNTED JULY 2, 1907 J. O. LANDES. AUTOMATIC GAS CONTROLLER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 15, 1906.

: 1; i ij w wamw Q?- J ym- THE NORRIS PETERS ca, \vnsmmzmu, 17. c.

JOSEPH O. LANDES, OF GOLLEGEVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMATIC GAS-CONTROLLER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 2, 1907.

Application filed November 15,1906. Serial No. 343.481.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, .losnrn G. LANDES, a citizen of the United States,residing at Collegeville, county of Montgomery, State of Pennsylvania,have invented a new and useful Automatic Gas-Controller, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to means for automatically turning on and cuttingoff gas, at the burner therefor, and its object is to utilize thepressure of the gas at the generator, the gas works or elsewhere toaccomplish the same.

In this end, I employ a movable device which is adapted to be influencedby such pressure, so as to close electric circuits whereby armatures orthe like may be actuated to operate the valve of the burner in oppositedirections for the respective purpose of so turning on and cutting offthe gas.

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a pressureoperated device forautomatically igniting and extinguishing gas embodying my invention.Fig. 2 repre sents a vertical section thereof including an attachedburner. Fig. 3 represents a section of a detached portion. Fig. 4represents a side elevation of another detached portion.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in thefigures.

Referring to the drawings:-A represents a gas receiver which is closedat bottom and open at top and in which is telescopically fitted therising and falling vessel B which is open at bottom and closed at top.

C designates the pipe for supplying gas to the burner D, the same havingconnected with it, at the coupling E, the pipe F which passes throughthe bottom of the receiver A into the vessel B and opens into thelatter, said pipes F and C being subjected to the same pressure of gasadmitted as at G from the gas generator or works, or elsewhere.

Supported on the vessel A, by the arms H or other suitable means is thecircular run-way .l which is composed of concentric plates K and L ofelectric-conductive material having their upper edges of spiral or inclined form, said run-way being also formed of two sections which areseparated by the cross bar M of insulated material, and furtherseparated as at M so as to be insulated, it being noticed that the lowerends of the walls of one section terminate adjacent to the highest endsof the walls of the other section, said highest ends forming shoulders Nadjacent to which is the ball P which is formed of electric-conductivematerial constituting a contact-piece or electrode adapted to roll onthe spiral edges of the plates K and L and rest upon either end of sidecross bar M.

The bar M is connected with the Vessel B at the top thereof so as torise and fall with the same, said vessel being provided with, and guidedtrue by, the eyes B through which pass the vertical rods Q, the latterbeing secured to the receiver A and provided at their upper ends withthe nuts R, against which said eyes may abut to limit the ascent of thevessel B.

The burner D, has connected with its supporting frame, the separatemagnets S and the armatures T, the latter being engaged with a valve Uof said burner, so as to open and close the same as the respectivearmature is attracted, there being also provided the sparking device Vfor igniting the gas at the burner, but these features on the burner donot form the subject matter of any claim of invention, they being old inthe art.

Separate wires or conductors W lead from the binding screws X on theexterior walls of the run way to a suitable battery, and separate wiresor conductors Y lead from the binding screws Z on the interior wall ofsaid run way to the magnets S, for purposes to be hereinafter specified.

The operation is as follows, the parts being in position as seen in Fig.l. The gas is turned on when the pressure thereof raises the vessel B asa float and consequently the cross bar M. The ball P is then brought tothe highest point of the section of the run way, in the present case theone at the right hand of said figure, and landed on the top edge of theplates of said section, whereby said plates as electrodes are placed inelectric communication. This energizes the proper magnets S whereby thearmature thereof is attracted, the movein cut of the latter then beingcommunicated to the valve U, thus opening the same, whereby the gas isturned on and a spark directed to the ti pof the burner, thus ignitingthe gas and the light is thereby formed. The ball now rolls down theinclined surfaces of the section of the run-way again to the oppositeend thereof, when it again seats itself upon the cross bar, say at theleft side thereof, the electric circuit as is evident now being broken.The pressure of gas which has been high, is lowered at the generator,works, etc., to normal, or whatever is required, when the vessel Bdescends, and with it the cross bar and the ball thereon, the latterthen resting on the cross bar. \Vhen it is desired to extinguish thelight, the pressure of gas is again increased at the generator or works,when the vessel 13 is raised and the ball elevated with it and landed onthe highest end of the other section of the run-way, when the plates Kand L of the latter are placed in electric circuit, and the wires orconductors thereof energizes the other magnet when the armature thereofis attracted and its move ment operates the valve U to close it whenthe'gas is cut off and the light extinguished. Meanwhile the ball rollsdown the inclined surface of the section, and leaving the same, seatsitself upon the other end of the cross bar adjacent to the shoulder atthe right hand of the other section, the electric circuit being againbroken,

due to the new position 01"; said ball. The pressure of the gas is thenlowered when the vessel B descends, the ball remainin stationar until itis main time torli ht- D D 5 mg, when the gas is again turnedon underhigh pressure, and the operations hereinbeiore stated are againrepeated.

In order to prevent any short circuiting by the ball at the shoulders N,pieces .l of insulated material are placed on the bases J of thesections of the run-way .T at said shoulders, see Fig. 3, so that theball or roller P may abut thereagainst, the effect of which is evident.

In some cases, thereare attached to the sections N, N, adjacent to thecircuit-breaking division or separation M, the switch N [or electricallyconnecting said sections to form a continuous circuit ol' the run-waywhen so required.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, isz- 1. In a device of the Character stated, agas receiver, a movable member adapted to be actuated by the pressureof, the gas, electrodes one disposed in opposite direction to the otherand primarily out of electric circuit and gravitating means Operated bysaid member and adapted to be automatically placed from one to the otherof said electrodes and to traverse the same for closing the circuit 01'said electrodes.

2. In a device of the character stated, a gas receiver, a movable membertherein adapted to be actuated by the pressure of the gas, electrodes,one disposed in opposite direction to the other the same being primarilyout of electric circuit, and a gravitating piece which is adapted to beplaced by said member in contact with and to automatically gravitateover said electrodes and close an electric circuit.

2;. In a device of the character stated, a gas receiver, a movable.member therein adapted to be actuated by the pressure of the gas,electrodes one disposed in opposite direction to the other and primarilyout of electric cireult, and a gravitating movable contact piece on saidmember adapted to be placed in contact with and to automaticallygravitate over said electrodes and close an electric circuit.

4. In a device of the character stated, a gas receiver, a movable membertherein adapted to be actuated by the pressure of the gas, a pluralityof pairs of electrodes each primarily out of electric circuit, agravitating movable contact piece carried by said member adapted toengage said electrodes and thereby close an electric circuit, saidcontact piece being adapted to automatically traverse each pair of asection of the electrodes and be automatically placed from one pair uponthe other pair and successively close the circuit of each pair.

In a device of the character stated, a gas receiver, a Iloat thereinadapted to be actuated by the pressure of automatically gas, agravitating movable piece carried by said Heat, a rim way adapted tohave said piece placed thereon by said vessel and electric conductorsconnected with said run way, said piece serving to place said conductorsin an electric circuit.

0. In a device of the character stated, a gas receiver, a float thereinadapted to be moved by the pressure 01' gas, electric conductorsprimarily out of electric circuit, and means, embodying a g-avitatingcontact piece, for placing said conductors in such circuit when saidiloat is subjected to an increased pressure 01 gas.

7. In a device 01' the character stated, a gas receiver, a iloat thereinadapted to be moved by the pressure of gas, conductors primarily out ofelectric circuit, a run way and a gravitating movable contact pieceadapted to be placed by said lloat on said run way to gravitate thereonto form a circuit of said conductors.

S. In a device of the character stated, a gas receiver,

a lloat therein adapted to be actuated by the pressure of gas, aplurality 01. electric conductors primarily out of electric circuit,sectional electrodes, each section having members provided with inclinedsurfaces, and a. gravitating movable contact piece adapted to be placedby said lloat on the respective electrode.

9. In a device of the character stated, a gas receiver, a lloat thereinadapted to be actuated by the pressure of gas, a transverse memberthereon a plurality olf conductors primarily out of electric circuit,sectional electrodes each section having members provided with inclinedsurfaces, and a gravitating movable contact'piece normally supported bysaid transverse member and adapted to be placed by said ileat on therespective electrode.

10. In a device 01' the character stated, a gas receiver, a lloattherein adapted to be actuated by the pressure of gas, a run way formedo1.- separate electrodes, electric conductors connected respectivelywith said electrodes and primarily out of electric circuit, and agravitating movable contact piece adapted to be placed by said float onsaid electrodes and form a circuit 01. said conductors.

11. In a device of the character stated, a gas receiver, a memberactuated by the pressure of gas, oppositely disposed inclined run waysforming electrodes, and a movable gravitating member normally out of theplane of said run ways and automatically placed thereon by change in thegas pressure.

12. In a device of the character stated, a gas receiver, a memberactuated by the pressure of gas, oppositely disposed inclined run waysforming electrodes, a movable gravitating member normally out of theplane of said run ways and autoinati fally placed thereon by change inthe gas pressure, and means [or automatically shifting said movablegravitating member from one run way to the other. i

JOSEPH C. LANDES.

Witnesses JOHN A. \VIEDERSIIEIM, WM. Caxnn Winnimsinai.

